Image source, Getty Images

Steven Gerrard has joined coach Roy Hodgson in backing striker Daniel Sturridge to make a major impact.

"He's been the best in training. He's been electric. Sometimes he doesn't realise how good he is," he said.

"He is capable of taking this World Cup by storm, that's how good he is. He's capable of becoming one of the best strikers in the world."

England captain Steven Gerrard says there can be no excuses for World Cup failure as they prepare to face Italy.

Robin van Persie says that the Netherlands' crushing 5-1 win over reigning world champions Spain is "definitely down to Louis van Gaal".

Luis Suarez will miss Uruguay's opener against Costa Rica on Saturday as he continues his recovery from a knee injury.

England manger Roy Hodgson has compared striker Daniel Sturridge to a teenage Pele about to launch himself on the world stage.

"He is an extremely gifted player and he's shown that with great aplomb with Liverpool," said Hodgson.

"We only have to look at Pele in 58. He wasn't even well known in Brazil when he arrived at that tournament at 17 and he went on to become one of the most famous players of all time."

Our chief football writer Phil McNulty will be in Manaus tonight and he has taken a closer look at the Amazonian city.

• The city benefited from the the rubber boom at the turn of the 20th century, becoming rich in a matter of decades

• However, the smart European architecture of the houses at the Manaus harbour and its famous opera house - Teatro Amazonas - are all that remains of that time

• Half of the population of the Amazonas state live in Manaus

• It is not often the main destination for tourists, who use it as a stop-off point on their way to the rainforest

Image source, Seth Burkett

Temperatures in Manaus are set to hit 30C tonight but Seth Burkett has proved English footballers can thrive in the heat of Brazil.

Read the incredible story of how former Lincolnshire schoolboy Burkett swapped the English Evo-Stik League for Brazilian professional football.

BBC Radio 5 live

Former Celtic manager Neil Lennon on BBC Radio 5 live: "There's a big onus on Wayne Rooney tonight. He's a big-game player and that's what England are going to need. There's been a lot of pressure on him, unjustifiably so, because he's a top player.

"I think it's going to be cautious game to start with but I think it will open up as the heat has an effect."

Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas believes his team can bounce back from a heavy defeat to the Netherlands in their opening game.

"This team have always been characterised by the way the players help each other.

"We have to face up to the consequences, train hard and win the next game. Chile will be a tough opponent and for us it will be like a final," he said.

QPR midfielder Joey Barton on BBC Radio 5 live

"I've got a bit of a man-crush on Pirlo at the moment.

"He's a brilliant player, he's got great hair and he just does everything brilliantly.

"I saw him yesterday. It's difficult to make a football tracksuit look good but, with his shades on, he made it look good. He does everything coolly.

"He goes into positions that midfielders aren't supposed to go into. When I've seen Pirlo at his worst, which is rare, it's when he's forced to go the other way, back towards his own goal."

Image source, Getty Images

Former Italy striker Alessandro Del Piero on BBC Radio 5 live: "If you are a good team you can get to the semi-final but to bring the trophy home, you need something magic.

"It's not something that happens a month before, but it starts two years before.

"Mario [Balotelli] is a very young talent. If he finds the right equilibrium this can be an important moment for him, not just as a player, but as a man.

"He can change the way the public and media think about him."

BBC commentator John Motson on BBC Radio 5 live:

"I don't think the first game is the be all and end all but victory does set you off on the right foot. I can remember in 1982 when Bryan Robson volleyed the ball home in 27 seconds. The story goes that he got a gold watch for that. I'm not sure how many players would be bothered about that these days."

You can listen to more build-up to tonight's action and analysis of last night's action on BBC Radio 5 live.

BBC Radio 5 live

Former Celtic manager Neil Lennon on BBC Radio 5 live: "I don't think you can send any team out to get a point. I'm very confident for England. I think England will either win it or at least get a point.

"If you pick something up early it puts you in a far more comfortable position. If you lose, then the pressure really is on in the second game."

Daily Telegraph's Jonathan Liew describes how Louis van Gaal's inside knowledge of Barcelona from his two spells as manager at the Nou Camp helped him mastermind the demolition of Spain by the Netherlands.

"Van Gaal's fingerprints are all over Spain's recent successes: he gave Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Carles Puyol and Victor Valdes their Barcelona debuts, oversaw the progress of Gerard Pique and Cesc Fabregas at La Masia," he writes., external

"Like Rembrandt, perhaps Van Gaal has finally managed to kill the very thing he created."

Image source, Getty Images

Australian goalscorer Tim Cahill claims that Gonzalo Jara admitted to him during the Socceroos' 3-1 defeat last night that he was " a cheat".

"I called him a cheat. And he said 'yes, I'm a cheat, so what'. That is not gamesmanship ... this needs to be out of the game," said the former Everton midfielder., external

Chile defender Gonzalo Jara says his side know enough about Spain to all but eliminate the defending champions in their next group game.

Chile beat Australia 3-1 in their first group game while Spain crumbled to a 5-1 defeat against the Netherlands.

"It's really difficult to face Spain, but we've played many friendlies against them. We know their tactics, we know their football."

Bong! Here are your top-of-the-hour headlines.

England captain Steven Gerrard says there can be no excuses for World Cup failure as they prepare to face Italy.

Robin van Persie says that the Netherlands' crushing 5-1 win over reigning world champions Spain is "definitely down to Louis van Gaal".

Luis Suarez will miss Uruguay's opener against Costa Rica on Saturday as he continues his recovery from a knee injury.

Chris Waddle
BBC Radio 5 live

"You could have told Paul Gascoigne to play any which way, he would have nodded and just gone and played exactly how he wanted.

"Bobby Robson told him before the 1990 semi-final against West Germany to share the responsibility for marking Lothar Matthaus. It was only when we got out there that he turned to me and said, 'Who is Matthaus?'"

You can listen to more build-up to tonight's action and analysis of last night's action on BBC Radio 5 live.

Rooney or Barkley? Sterling or Welbeck? Lallana or Milner?

There are plenty of selection dilemmas to mull over for tonight's big game. You've been having your say at #bbcworldcup

Alex Crook: "Rooney, Lallana and Barkley all deserve to start. Does Henderson really have a place in this England team?"

Muhamya: "Am in for Rooney Sterling & Lallana. Some questions on Rooney but he adds fear factor and adds belief to the team."

Image source, The Sun

Tonight's game will be played in northern Brazil in the jungle of Manaus and the Sun newspaper takes an unconventional approach in its build-up to England's World Cup opener.

Image source, Other

The Italians arrived at the 2014 World Cup kitted out in D&G suits that cost nearly £3,000 a pop. Don't they look smart?

Image source, Getty Images

More from Gianluca Vialli who believes the Azzurri will have a "slight advantage" over England in Saturday's World Cup clash.

Vialli, who won 59 caps, says Italy's experience in the 2013 Confederations Cup in Brazil gives them the edge.